[keenerd]

> The old word of "fake news" is propaganda.

No, they are different by a matter of degree. Propaganda is all about spin, context, and stretching the truth. Stuff that actually happened but is presented in a mis-represented and misleading fashion. Fake news is completely fabricated and entirely fictional.

[gwright]

I think that is an overly charitable view of the scope and variety of propaganda. The term "propaganda" is broad enough to include 100% accurate but carefully selected information, information based on facts but presented with spin or misleading framing, and 100% fictional information.

In my mind, unifying idea of "propaganda" is that it is designed to mislead and cause the consumer to draw conclusions different than what might otherwise be reached via an accurate and truthful understanding of the issue. There is a notion of "intent" in propaganda that is absent or explained more by ignorance and naiveté in "fake news".

The idea of "fake news" certainly overlaps with propaganda, but it also includes genuinely sloppy reporting and inaccuracy introduced by ignorance of the subject matter and a willingness to repeat and mimic true propaganda. The sloppiness and inaccuracy often occurs due to confirmation bias in the reporting process.

[bryanrasmussen]

lots of propaganda is completely faked, especially in controlled populations when you don't have to worry about following real events, you can just make them up to get the reaction you want.

[wybiral]

I think it's more that "fake news" is a subset of propaganda.

Propaganda can be fake news. But it can also be actual facts.